FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-finals Schedule & Fixtures

Last Updated on July 12, 2026 by Maurya

The biggest World Cup in history is down to its final four. After 100-plus matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the 48-team field of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been trimmed to four heavyweight nations: France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Between them, these teams own eight World Cup titles — and two of them will collide for a ninth at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals: Quick Schedule Overview

Kickoff times in other time zones (semi-finals):

• 12:00 PM PT (Los Angeles)
• 8:00 PM BST (London)
• 9:00 PM CEST (Madrid, Paris)
• 4:00 PM ART (Buenos Aires)
• 12:30 AM IST, next day (New Delhi)

In the United States, tournament matches are being broadcast in English on FOX platforms, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo’s networks. International viewers should check their local rights holders (BBC/ITV in the UK, TSN/CTV in Canada, and regional broadcasters elsewhere).

Semi-Final 1: France vs Spain — Tuesday, July 14

Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST

This is the blockbuster. The two top-ranked teams in FIFA’s live rankings meet a round early in what many pundits are calling a “final before the final.” It’s also a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final, which Spain won 2–1 on their way to the European title.

How France got here

Les Bleus have been ruthlessly efficient. France dispatched Paraguay 1–0 in the Round of 16 thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty, then eliminated a spirited Morocco side 2–0 in the quarter-final at Foxborough — a repeat of their 2022 semi-final pairing. Mbappé saw an early penalty saved in that match but responded with a superb open-play goal on the hour, before Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé added a second minutes later.

The numbers behind France’s run are remarkable:

• Mbappé has eight goals in the tournament, level at the top of the Golden Boot race, and now sits on 20 career World Cup goals — one behind Lionel Messi’s all-time active tally.
• Didier Deschamps’ side has reached the semi-finals at a third consecutive World Cup (2018 champions, 2022 runners-up).
• Dembélé’s hat-trick against Norway in the group stage announced a France attack that has depth well beyond its captain.

How Spain got here

Spain arrived as tournament favorites and European champions, but their knockout run has been a masterclass in late drama. Substitute Mikel Merino has turned into La Roja’s talisman off the bench: he scored a 91st-minute winner to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the Round of 16, then repeated the trick with an 88th-minute strike to beat Belgium 2–1 in the quarter-final in Los Angeles.

Key storylines for Spain:

• This is Spain’s first World Cup semi-final since 2010, the year they lifted the trophy in South Africa.
• Teenage superstar Lamine Yamal has returned to form at the perfect moment, giving Luis de la Fuente’s possession machine its cutting edge.
• Spain’s blend of tournament pedigree (Euro 2024 winners) and youth makes them the bookmakers’ pick despite France’s star power.

The tactical battle

Expect a collision of styles: Spain’s suffocating positional play and midfield control against France’s devastating transitions through Mbappé and Dembélé. The Euro 2024 meeting suggested Spain can dominate the ball, but France’s front line is arguably sharper now than it was two summers ago. Pre-match win-probability models rate this one nearly even, with France holding a slim edge — a coin flip between the world’s two best teams.

Semi-Final 2: England vs Argentina — Wednesday, July 15

Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST

If France–Spain is the purist’s dream, England–Argentina is the narrative writer’s. One of international football’s most storied rivalries — from 1986’s “Hand of God” to 1998’s shootout heartbreak — gets a World Cup semi-final chapter, with the reigning world champions standing between England and a first men’s final on foreign soil.

How England got here

England’s knockout run has showcased a team that can win ugly and win late. The Three Lions survived a five-goal thriller against host nation Mexico, winning 3–2 in Mexico City — a result hailed as one of their finest away victories ever. In the quarter-final, they needed extra time to see off Erling Haaland’s Norway, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals in a 2–1 win.

Why England believe:

• This is England’s fourth men’s World Cup semi-final (1966, 1990, 2018, 2026) and second in three tournaments.
• Bellingham is playing the best tournament football of his career, dovetailing with captain Harry Kane’s penalty-box menace.
• Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been quietly excellent, closing in on an England World Cup appearance record and anchoring a defense that has bent but rarely broken.

How Argentina got here

The defending champions have made chaos their trademark. Argentina cruised through Group J with a perfect record, then turned every knockout match into theatre: a 111th-minute own goal to escape Cabo Verde in the Round of 32, and an astonishing comeback from 2–0 down against Egypt in the Round of 16 — three goals in the final 15 minutes to win 3–2. In the quarter-final in Kansas City, Alexis Mac Allister’s early goal from a corner set the tone in a 3–1 defeat of Switzerland.

The Messi factor looms over everything:

• At 39, Lionel Messi has scored in every match of this World Cup, sitting level with Mbappé on eight goals in the Golden Boot race.
• Julián Álvarez’s return to sharpness has eased Argentina’s dependence on their captain, while Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández control midfield tempo.
• Lionel Scaloni’s side is chasing back-to-back titles — a feat last achieved by Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

The tactical battle

England’s structured pressing against Argentina’s streetwise game management is a fascinating clash. Argentina’s defense has conceded twice in each knockout game, and England have the firepower — Kane, Bellingham, and pace out wide — to punish that. But no team in world football manufactures decisive moments like Argentina, and no player bends tournaments to his will like Messi. Win-probability models give England a narrow edge, but this is as close to 50–50 as a semi-final gets.

The Road to the Final: Venue & Format Details

Dallas Stadium (Semi-Final 1)

The Arlington, Texas venue — known domestically as AT&T Stadium — is one of the largest indoor stadiums in world sport, with a retractable roof and capacity expanded beyond 90,000 for the World Cup. Its climate-controlled environment removes the mid-July Texas heat from the equation, promising ideal conditions for a high-tempo match.

Atlanta Stadium (Semi-Final 2)

Atlanta’s downtown showpiece (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in NFL life) features its iconic camera-lens retractable roof and a capacity of roughly 71,000 for this tournament. Its acoustics are famously loud — expect a cauldron atmosphere with Argentina’s traveling support in full voice.

New York New Jersey Stadium (The Final)

The July 19 final will be staged at the 82,500-capacity venue in East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), the largest stadium in the New York metropolitan area. The third-place play-off takes place a day earlier, on July 18, at Miami Stadium in Florida.

Format notes

As with every World Cup knockout match, semi-finals level after 90 minutes go to 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if required. Yellow-card accumulation was wiped after the quarter-finals, so no player misses the final through bookings picked up earlier — only a red card in the semi-final triggers a final suspension.

Golden Boot Watch Heading Into the Semi-Finals

The individual scoring race adds another layer to semi-final week:

1. Kylian Mbappé (France) — 8 goals
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 8 goals
3. Erling Haaland (Norway) — 7 goals (eliminated)
4. Harry Kane (England) — in the chasing pack and still playing

With Haaland’s Norway eliminated in the quarter-finals, the stage is set for a head-to-head duel between the two generational No. 10s of their eras — and if France and Argentina both advance, Mbappé vs Messi in a World Cup final rematch of Qatar 2022 would double as a Golden Boot decider.

Possible Final Match-Ups

• France vs England — a first-ever World Cup final between the cross-Channel rivals, and revenge material for England after their 2022 quarter-final exit to Les Bleus.
• France vs Argentina — an instant rematch of the greatest final ever played, Qatar 2022’s 3–3 epic decided on penalties.
• Spain vs England — a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, won by Spain in Berlin.
• Spain vs Argentina — a heavyweight “Finalissima” pairing of the European and world champions, and a potential Yamal-vs-Messi showcase.

There is no weak storyline left in this tournament.

FAQs

When are the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals? Tuesday, July 14 (France vs Spain) and Wednesday, July 15 (England vs Argentina). Both matches kick off at 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST.

Where are the 2026 World Cup semi-finals being played? Semi-final 1 is at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Semi-final 2 is at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

When and where is the 2026 World Cup final? Sunday, July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET.

Is there a third-place match? Yes. The two losing semi-finalists meet on Saturday, July 18 at Miami Stadium in Florida.

How can I watch the semi-finals in the US? English-language coverage is on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo. Streaming is available through each broadcaster’s platforms and major live-TV streaming services.

Which teams reached the 2026 World Cup semi-finals? France (2018 champions), Spain (2010 champions and reigning European champions), England (1966 champions), and Argentina (2022 defending champions).

Has Argentina ever won back-to-back World Cups? No — and no nation has since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Argentina are two wins away from making history.

Final Word

The 2026 World Cup began with 48 teams, three host nations, and 104 matches of possibility. It ends with four European and South American giants, two colossal semi-finals played 24 hours apart, and the promise of a final worthy of the biggest tournament ever staged. Whether it’s Mbappé chasing a second star, Spain completing a Euro–World Cup double, Bellingham dragging England over the line, or Messi authoring one last miracle at 39 — semi-final week will decide which story gets its ending in New Jersey on July 19.